A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Congress’ Ramesh Kumar elected Karnataka Assembly Speaker ahead of trust vote: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate S Suresh Kumar withdrew his nomination for the post.
  2. Fifteen injured in explosion at Indian restaurant in Toronto, police looking for two men: An improvised explosive device was used to carry out the blast at the Bombay Bhel restaurant in the suburb of Mississauga, reports said.
  3. Kanimozhi and others detained during shutdown against police firing in Thoothukudi: Around 20,000 security personnel are reportedly deployed in sensitive areas.  
  4. After US cancels summit, North Korea says it is still open to talks: Pyongyang said it was open to resolving problems with Washington ‘at any time in any way’. 
  5. Actor Morgan Freeman apologises after sexual harassment allegations surface: Sixteen people told CNN about the actor’s inappropriate behaviour on movie sets, while promoting his films and at his production company.  
  6. Congress hints at alliance with other parties to counter BJP in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections: The party does not want the ‘secular vote’ to be divided, said Kamal Nath.
  7. Lok Dal candidate drops out of Kairan bye-election to strengthen united Opposition front against BJP: Kanwar Hasan will support his sister-in-law Tabassum Hasan, who is contesting on a Rashtriya Lok Dal ticket.
  8. Five officials suspended for security lapses during Kasauli demolition drive: A hotel owner allegedly killed an assistant town planner on duty during the Supreme Court-mandated anti-encroachment drive on May 1.
  9. Five boys arrested for allegedly raping 11-year-old girl in Chittoor district: A mob in the town of Punganur dragged out two of the accused from their homes late on Wednesday and thrashed them.  
  10. Schoolteacher in Chandigarh arrested for allegedly sexually abusing 14-year-old boy: The boy used to go to her home for private tuition.